1475 MEGENBERG, Konrad von (1309 – 1374)
Buch der Natur.
The first printed book to contain illustrations of animals, and the first notable scientific book in German. It discusses animals, birds, fish, anatomy, physiology, plagues, the medicinal value of plants and stones, e…
GMN 276.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8810
1478 OPPIANUS, [Ὀππιανός; Oppian of Anazarbus, of Corycus, or of Cilicia] (140 – ); LIPPIUS, Laurentius (Lorenzo Lippi) (1440 – 1485)
Halieutica, sive de piscatu. [Translated by Lorenzo Lippi, with recipes for cooking added by Lippi.]
The didactic poem on fish and fishing by Oppian of Anazarbus, a 2nd-century Greco-Roman poet, survived the Middle Ages essentially in its entirety, consisting of 3500 lines in Greek. The poem was dedicated to the empe…
GMN 7086 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9253
1517 OPPIANUS, [Ὀππιανός; Oppian of Anazarbus, of Corycus, or of Cilicia] (140 – ); LIPPIUS, Laurentius (Lorenzo Lippi) (1440 – 1485); OPPIAN OF APAMEA, [Oppian of Pella; Pseudo Oppian] (180 – )
Oppianou Alieuticon biblia pente. Tou autou Kynegetikon biblia tessara. Oppiani De piscibus libri V. Eiusdem De venatione libri IV. Oppiani De piscibus Laurentio Lippio interprete libri V.
First edition in print of Oppian of Apamea's Cynegetica (Κυνηγετικά/KynÄ“getiká, 'On Hunting' ), a didactic poem in 2144 hexameters and 4 books, dedicated to the emperor Caracalla (Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus A…
GMN 7111 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9278
1533 AELIANUS, Claudius [Κλαύδιος Αἰλιανός] (175 – 235); GILLES, Pierre [Petrus Gylllius, Gillius] (1490 – 1555)
Ex Aeliani historia per Petrum Gyllium latini facti, itemque ex Porphyrio, Heliodoro, Oppiano: Tum eodem Gyllio luculentis accessionibus aucti libri XVI. De ui & natura animalium. Eiusdem Gyllij liber unus, de gallicis & latinis nominibus piscium.
Editio princeps of Aelianus's late antique work on natural history. Along with Aelianus's text Gyllius included his own “Liber summarius de Gallicis et Latinis nominibus piscium Massiliensium” [Book on the French and …
GMN 8952 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11131
1551 BELON, Pierre [Pierre Belon du Mans; Petrus Bellonius Cenomanus] (1517 – 1564)
L'histoire naturelle des estranges poissons marins, avec la vraie peincture & description du daulphin, & de plusieurs autres de son espece.
This, Belon’s first biological work, is regarded as the earliest modern scientific work in the field of comparative anatomy. Finely illustrated with woodcuts. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 278 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8813
1553 BELON, Pierre [Pierre Belon du Mans; Petrus Bellonius Cenomanus] (1517 – 1564)
De aquatilibus, libri duo cum [epsilon] [iota] conibus ad viuam ipsorum effigiem, quoad eius fieri potuit, expressis.
Considerably expanded from Belon's work of 1551. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 279 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8814
1554 –1555 RONDELET, Guillaume [RONDELETIUS] (1507 – 1566)
Libri de piscibus marinis, in quibus verae piscium effigies expressae sunt. (Universae aquatilium pars altera.) 2 vols.
Rondelet wrote this book with the idea of verifying Aristotle, but in it he described many forms of fishes for the first time. The book is an accurate account of his investigation of Mediterranean fishes and marine an…
GMN 282 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8818
1554 SALVIANI, Hippolito (1514 – 1572)
Aquatilium animalium historiae. Liber primus cum eorumdem formis aere excusis.
Salviani taught at the University of Rome until 1568, after which he was chief physician to the House of Farnese and three successive popes, Pope Julius III, Pope Marcellus II and Pope Paul IV. "Salviani’s work was pu…
GMN 13119 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15375
1556 GESNER, Conrad [Konrad Gessner] (1516 – 1565); AELIANUS, Claudius [Κλαύδιος Αἰλιανός] (175 – 235)
Claudii Aeliani... opera, quae extant omnia: Graece Latineque e regione, uti versa hac pagina commemorantur... Conradi Gesneri.
First edition in print, edited by Conrad Gessner, of Aelianus's collected works, including On the nature of animals (On the characteristics of animals). Aelianus was a Roman author and teacher of rhetoric who flourish…
GMN 7087 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9254
1650 –1653 JONSTON, John [Jan] (1603 – 1675)
Historia naturalis. 6 vols: Historiae naturalis de quadrupedibus; Historiae naturalis de avibus; Historiae naturalis de piscibus et cetis; Historiae naturalis de exanguibus aquaticis; Historiae naturalis de insectis, de serpentibus et draconbius; Historiae naturalis de serpentibus.
The first 5 volumes were published in 1650; the last volume was published in 1653. This work, published in small folio format, includes 249 engraved plates and six elegant engraved title pages (4 resembling frontispie…
GMN 11704 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/13905
1671 REDI, Francesco (1626 – 1697)
Esperienze intorno a diverse cose naturali…
Includes the first scientific study of an electric fish. While the torpedo’s peculiar properties had provoked scientific speculation since at least the time of Aristotle, Redi was the first to perform an actual dissec…
GMN 294.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/8839
1672 JOSSELYN, John (1630 – 1675)
New-Englands rarities discovered: in birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, and plants of that country. Together with the physical and chyrurgical remedies wherewith the natives constantly use to cure their distempers, wounds, and sores…
The first detailed account of the natural history and botany of North America, including the first extensive study of native North American medicine.
GMN 1826.1 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/2138
1686 RAY, John (1628 – 1705); WILLUGHBY, Francis (Willoughby) (1635 – 1672)
De historia piscium libri quatuor.
A large folio volume with 187 engraved plates considered the first modern encyclopedia on fish, this was largely the work of John Ray, prepared and expanded from Willougby's notes, more than a decade after his death. …
GMN 7088 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9255
1731 –1747 CATESBY, Mark (1683 – 1749)
The natural history of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands: Containing the figures of birds, beasts, fishes, serpents, insects, and plants: Particularly, the forest-trees, shrubs, and other plants, not hitherto described, or very incorrectly figured by authors. Together with their descriptions in English and French. To which are added observations on the air, soil and waters: With remarks on agriculture, grain, pulse, roots &c. To the whole is prefixed a new and complete map of the countries treated of. 2 vols.
The only attempt to record the natural history of a region of America during the colonial period. Includes 220 fine handcolored etched plates after and by Catesby and mostly signed with his cipher, excepting plates 61…
GMN 9571 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11758
1734 –1765 SEBA, Albertus (1665 – 1736)
Locupletissimi rerum naturalium thesauri accurata descriptio et iconibus artificiosissmis expressio per universam physices historiam. 4 vols.
With 4 folio volumes this is probably the most elaborate catalogue of a private natural history museum, wunderkammer, or cabinet of curiosities ever published. The text is printed in Latin and Dutch. The work includes…
GMN 7485 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9657
1738 LINNAEUS, Carl (Linné) (1707 – 1778); ARTEDI, Peter (1705 – 1735)
Ichthyologia sive opera omnia de Piscibus....omnia in hoc genere perfectiora, quam antea ulla. Posthuma vindicavit, recognovit, coaptavit & edidit Carolus Linnaeus.
After Artedi's mysterious and premature death by drowning at the age of 30 Linnaeus raised money to pay off Artedi's creditors and obtained his papers. These he published in the present five part work. The five parts …
GMN 7112 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9279
1749 –1789 BUFFON, Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de (1707 – 1788)
Histoire naturelle générale et particulière…. 44 vols., plus atlas.
This vast work is divided into seven parts. I: Histoire naturelle générale et particulière…15 vols., by Buffon and L.J.M. Daubenton (1749-67). II: Histoire naturelle des oiseaux. 9 vols., by Buffon, P. Guéneau de Mont…
GMN 324 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/193
1754 GRONOVIUS, Laurens Theodoor (1730 – 1777)
Museum ichthyologicum sistens piscium indigenorum et quorundam exoticorum, qui in museo Laurentii Theodori Gronovii adservantur: Descriptiones ordine systematico; accedunt nonnullorum exoticorum piscium icones aeri incisae.
Gronovius described over 200 species of fish. He is also credited with developing a technique for preservation of fish skins. Today, a number of his fish skins are preserved in the Natural History Museum, London. Digi…
GMN 12979 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/15227
1754 RENARD, Louis (1678 – 1746)
Poissons, écrevisses et crabes, de diverse couleurs et figures extraordinaires, que l'on trouve autour des Isles Moluques, et sur les côtes des Terres Australes....
"This extraordinary work purports to show marine life from the seas around Indonesia at a time when the natural wildlife of that area was virtually unknown in Europe. Renard, both a publisher and a spy for the British…
GMN 13783 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/16070
1773 WALSH, John (1725 – 1795)
Of the electric property of the torpedo.
The first accurate study of the electrical organs of the torpedo fish were made by Walsh, who was given the Copley Medal of the Royal Society for his work on the subject. Walsh proved that the shock of the torpedo was…
GMN 589 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/405
1778 GEOFFROY, Étienne Louis (1725 – 1810)
Dissertations sur l’organe de l’ouie. 1. De l’homme. 2. Des reptiles. 3. Des poissons.
GMN 1551 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/1133
1783 SPALLANZANI, Lazzaro (1729 – 1799)
Lettera dell' Abate Spallanzani al Sig. Marchese Lucchesini.
Records on pp. 80-104 Spallanzani's work on the torpedo. In the 1780's Spallanzani turned to marine biology, making several trips to the Mediterranean region. On his visit to Portovenere in 1783 "he instituted the fir…
GMN 12037 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/14245
1787 PARRA Y CALLADO, Antonio (1739 – )
Descripcion de diferentes piezas de historia natural las mas del ramo maritimo.
This catalogue of Carrbean fish was the first scientific treatise printed in Cuba and also the first illustrated book printed in Cuba. Digital facsimile from Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.
GMN 8026 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/10202
1787 PARRA, Antonio (1737 – )
Descripcion de diferentes piezas de historia natura, las mas del ramo maritimo.
The first scientific book printed in Cuba. The striking illustrations are by the author's son, and depict fish, turtles, and crustacieans observed along the Cuban shoreline. The final section contains three alarming i…
GMN 13908 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/16200
1802 –1808 DONOVAN, Edward (1768 – 1837)
The natural history of British fishes, including scientific and general descriptions of the most interesting species, and an extensive selection of accurately finished coloured plates. Taken entirely from original drawings, purposely made from the specimens in a recent state, and for the most part whilst living. 5 vols.
"the paint is laid on so thickly that it is frequently impossible to see the engraved lines underneath. The already rich colouring is heightened by the addition of burnished highlights, albumen overglazes and metallic…
GMN 9089 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11268
1820 RAFINESQUE, Constantine Samuel (1783 – 1840)
Ichthyologia Ohiensis, or natural history of the fishes inhabiting the river Ohio and its tributary streams, preceded by a physical description of the Ohio and its branches.
In Rafinesque's polemic style the title page includes the following statement: "The art of seeing well, or of noticing and distinguishing with accuracy the objects which we perceive, is a high faculty of the mind, unf…
GMN 10617 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12810
1833 AUTENREITH, Hermann Friedrich (1799 – 1874)
Ueber das Gift der Fische: mit vergleichender Berücksichtigung des Giftes von Muscheln, Käse, Gehirn, Fleisch, Fett und Würsten, so wie der sogenannten mechanischen Gifte.
Discusses all then known posionsous and venomous fishes, including freshwater and marine species, and includes a "thorough review of practically all the early literature on poisonous and venomous fishes, a list of all…
GMN 9668 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11855
1833 –1866 JARDINE, Sir William (1800 – 1874)
The naturalist's library. Edited by Sir William Jardine. 40 vols.
"1833, Natural History of Humming Birds, Part I, (Ornithology Vol. VI) by William Jardine, with memoir of Carl Linnaeus. (online) 1833, Monkeys, (Mammalia Vol. I) by William Jardine, with a memoir of Comte de Buffon (…
GMN 10177 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12366
1840 –1843 OWEN, Sir Richard (1804 – 1892); DARWIN, Charles Robert (1809 – 1882); GOULD, John (1804 – 1881); BELL, Thomas (1792 – 1880); WATERHOUSE, George Robert (1810 – 1888); JENYNS, Leonard (1800 – 1893)
The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, under the command of Captain Fitzroy, R. N., during the years 1832 to 1836. Edited by Charles Darwin. 5 pts in 3 vols.
Part 1: Fossil mammalia by Richard Owen; Part 2: Mammalia by George Waterhouse; Part 3: Birds by John Gould; Part 4: Fish by Leonard Jenyns; Part 5: Reptiles by Thomas Bell. Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive…
GMN 7437 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9609
1841 –1854 DUMONT D'URVILLE, Jules Sébastien César (1790 – 1842); DUMOUTIER, Pierre-Marie-Alexandre (1797 – 1873); BLANCHARD, Charles Émile (1819 – 1900); JACQUINOT, Charles Hector (1796 – 1879); HOMBRON, Jacques Bernard (1798 – 1852); PUCHERAN, Jacques (1817 – 1895); GUICHENOT, Antoine Alphonse (1809 – 1876); LUCAS, H.; ROUSSEAU, L.; MONTAGNE, Jean Pierre François Camille (1784 – 1866); DECAISNE, Joseph (1807 – 1882); GRANGE, J.; VINCENDON-DUMOULIN, Clément Adrien (1811 – 1858); COUPVENT-DESBOIS, Aimé Auguste Élie (1814 – 1892)
Voyage au Pôle Sud et dans l'Océanie sur les corvettes l'Astrolabe et la Zélée, exécuté...pendant...1837-1840, sous le commandement de M. J. DUMONT D'URVILLE... publié... sour la direction supérieure de M. [C. H.] Jacquinot, &c. 23 vols. in 22.
In 1836 King Louis-Philippe, enthusiastic for Southern Hemisphere exploration, sponsored Dumont d'Urville's plan for a circumnavigation focusing on the South Seas. D'Urville had already distinguished himself on two Pa…
GMN 11902 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/14107
1843 –1844 HINDS, Richard Brinsley (1811 – 1846); GRAY, John Edward (1800 – 1875); GOULD, John (1804 – 1881); RICHARDSON, Sir John (1787 – 1865)
The zoology of the voyage of the H.M.S. Sulphur, under the command of Captain Sir Edward Belcher during the years 1836-42. Edited and superintended by Richard Brinsley Hinds. Vol. 1: Mammalia by J.E. Gray; Birds by J. Gould; Fish by J. Richardson. Vol. 2.: Mollusca by R. B. Hinds.
Digital facsimile from the Biodiversity Heritage Library at this link.
GMN 9167 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11346
1847 –1847 HOLBROOK, John Edwards (1794 – 1871)
Southern ichthyology; or a description of the fishes inhabiting the waters of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Pt. 2, 1847, Pt. 3, 1848.
Holbrook never published part one of this work.
GMN 10336 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12528
1854 ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND
Descriptive catalogue of the fossil organic remains of Reptilia and Pisces contained in the museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Digital facsimile from Google Books at this link.
GMN 13865 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/16155
1857 –1859 TORREY, John (1796 – 1873); EMORY, William Hemsley (1811 – 1887); BAIRD, Spencer Fullerton (1823 – 1887); CONRAD, Timothy Abbott (1803 – 1877); ENGELMANN, George (1809 – 1884); GIRARD, Charles Frédéric (1822 – 1895); PARRY, Charles Christopher (1823 – 1890); SCHOTT, Arthur Carl Victor (1814 – 1875); HALL, James Jr. (1811 – 1898)
Report on the United States and Mexican boundary survey: Made under the direction of the secretary of the Interior
Vol. 1, pt. by W. H. Emory. Vol. 1, pt. 2: Geological reports by C.C. Parry and Arthur Schott, notes by W. H. Emory; Paleontology and geology of the boundary by James Hall; Description of cretaceous and tertiary fossi…
GMN 10514 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12707
1858 JOBERT DE LAMBALLE, Antoine Joseph (1799 – 1867)
Des appareils l'electriques des poissons l'electriques. 2 vols. (Text and atlas).
Digital facsimile of the text from the Hathi Trust at this link.
GMN 12256 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/14472
1859 –1870 GÜNTHER, Albert Karl Ludwig Gotthilf (Albert Charles Lewis Gotthilf) (1830 – 1914)
Catalogue of the fishes in the British Museum. 8 vols.
Digital facsimiles from the Hathi Trust at this link.
GMN 9317 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11499
1860 HOLBROOK, John Edwards (1794 – 1871)
Ichthyology of South Carolina. Vol. 1 (All Published).
Digital facsimile from BnF Gallica at this link.
GMN 10337 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/12529
1864 –1865 COUCH, Jonathan (1789 – 1870)
A history of the fishes of the British Islands. 4 vols.
Couch, a general practitioner at Polperro, Cornwall, became one of the greatest authorities on British fishes. The work, a monument of industry and patience, includes 252 hand-colored plates, also by Couch. Digital fa…
GMN 335 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/222
1873 THOMSON, Charles Wyville (1830 – 1882)
The depths of the sea. An account of the general results of the dredging cruises of H. M. SS. 'Porcupine' and 'Lightning during the summers of 1868, 1869, and 1870, under the scientific direction of Dr. Carpenter, F.R.S., J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S., and Dr. Wyville Thomson, F.R.S.
Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7483 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9655
1877 THOMSON, Charles Wyville (1830 – 1882)
The voyage of the "Challenger": The Atlantic: A preliminary account of the general results of th exploring voyage of H.M.S. "Challenger" during the year 1873 and the early part of the year 1876. 2 vols.
Digital facsimile of the first American edition (1878) from the Biodiversity Heritage Library, Internet Archive, at this link.
GMN 7484 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9656
1886 SAVTSCHENKO, Peter Nikolaevich (SAVCHENKO) (1846 – 1885)
Atlas des poissons vénéneux et descriptions des ravages produits par eux sur l'organisme humain, et des contre-poisons à employer. Atlas iadovitykh ryb s opisaniem vida ikh, deistviia iada na organizm cheloveka i ukazaniem protivuiadii.
The first well-illustrated medical military manual on toxic marine organisms. Text in French and Russian.
GMN 9665 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11852
1889 BOTTARD, Louis Alphonse (1854 – )
Les poissons venimeux. Contribution à l'hygiène navale.
The first systematic work on the venom organs of fishes.
GMN 9666 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11853
1912 MURRAY, John (1841 – 1914); HJORT, Johan (1869 – 1948)
The depths of the ocean. A general account of the modern science of oceanography based largely on the scientific researches of the Norwegian Steamer Michael Sars in the North Atlantic.
Digital facsimile from the Biodiversity Heritage Library, Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7482 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9654
1916 –1923 DEAN, Bashford (1867 – 1928); EASTMAN, Charles Rochester (1868 – 1918); GUDGER, Eugene Willis (1866 – 1956); HENN, Arthur Wilbur (1890 – 1959)
A Bibliography of fishes by Bashford Dean, enlarged and edited by Charles Rochester Eastman. 3 vols. Vol. 3 extended and edited by Eugene Willis Gudger with the cooperation of Arthur Wilbur Henn.
Digital facsimile from the Internet Archive at this link.
GMN 7091 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9258
1951 NISSEN, Claus (1901 – 1975)
Schöne Fischbücher: kurze Geschichte der ichthyologischen Illustrationen; Bibliographie fischkundlicher Abbildungswerke.
GMN 7114 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/9281
1965 –1970 HALSTEAD, Bruce W. (1920 – 2002); COURVILLE, Donovan Amos (1901 – 1996)
Poisonous and venomous marine animals of the world
Volume 1: Invertebrates; Vols. 2 & 3: Vertebrates. An unusually elaborate and finely printed, illustrated and bound set funded by the Department of Defense. Over 2000 pages. The first 155pp of Vol. 1 are a "History of…
GMN 9663 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/11850
2006 SHUBIN, Neil H. (1960 – ); DAESCHLER, Edward B.; JENKINS, Farish Alston (1940 – 2012)
A Devonian tetrapod-like fish and the evolution of the tetrapod body plan.
The authors showed that: 1) This transitional species had a set of features representing a major departure from the pattern in more primitive sarcopterygian fishes. 2) They presented data to indicate that Tiktaalik li…
GMN 14085 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/16396
2020 CUVIER, Jean Léopold Chrétien Frédéric "Georges" (1769 – 1832); PLETSCH, Theodore Wells III (1945 – )
Georges Cuvier’s historical portrait of the progress of ichthyology, from Its origins to our own time. Second edition, revised and enlarged, edited and annotated by T. W. Pietsch, translated from the French by A. J. Simpson.
GMN 12466 · https://historyofmedicine.com/id/14699
![AELIANUS, Claudius [Κλαύδιος Αἰλιανός] (175 – 235)](/media/portraits/10094)
![BELON, Pierre [Pierre Belon du Mans; Petrus Bellonius Cenomanus] (1517 – 1564)](/media/portraits/9632)
